The three-day event was organized by Nittany Greyhound, and will raise about $20,000 for future greyhounds' adoption from a shelter in western Pennsylvania.

Marley and Bucket, both 6-year-old greyhounds, stand in their costumes following a contest held during Greyhounds in Gettysburg. Bucket won for the funniest costume. He was dressed in beach attire and wearing a pair of pants with his tail wagging as Marley, a female greyhound, watches him get all the attention following his win. (THE EVENING SUN -- DEBRA SCHELL)

Joe and Kay Krug, of Shelbyville, Ky., stand proudly Saturday with Desert, a greyhound-mix, who won first place during the contest for best civil war costume. Desert, in her blue dress with white lace, also took best of show. The event was held outside the Allstar Expo Complex during Greyhounds in Gettysburg. (THE EVENING SUN -- DEBRA SCHELL)

Tall dogs, small dogs, brown dogs, black dogs and every shade in between, the greyhounds took over Gettysburg this weekend.

Desert, a female greyhound, walks tall in her blue dress with matching hat, and bow.

The sun shines brightly as she emerges from a metal building. She follows other greyhounds in a parade down a concrete walkway, through a patch of grass and arrives at a pavilion with tables surrounding it.

She stands with confidence, on a small hill overlooking the group of hounds and their owners as she sizes-up the competition; dogs dressed as a princess, cowboy and a 3-legged-hound with a movie reel tied to his back, aptly named "Tripod."

A woman with a clipboard walks around the circle, making a note of each of the 15 characters who wore competing outfits.

Desert's costume was chosen as the Best Civil War-period costume, and her owners, Joe and Kay Krug, of Shelbyville, Ky., also dressed the part. The trio took Best of Show, during the event held Saturday morning at the Allstar Expo Center during the 15th annual Greyhounds in Gettysburg.

The three-day event organized by Nittany Greyhound, and will raise about $20,000 for future greyhounds' adoption from a shelter in western Pennsylvania, said Toni Duchi, leader of the costume contest.

The Krugs brought Desert's sister, Sand, but she doesn't like to wear a dress, Kay said.

"Desert loves all the attention," said Kay Krug, as they pose for photos dressed in matching blue skirt, white shirt and a big blue bow.

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Joe, is a Civil War re-enactor and fires a cannon during re-enactment events, representing the Kentucky 14th Light Artillery for three years.

And while Desert may have shot the competition for the Civil War contenders, but Bucket, 6, was the comic of the day.

He was dressed in a Hawaiian-style shirt and matching hat, wearing jeans as his wagging tail protruded from them.

Born in a bucket of water at a kill shelter, he life was saved by a greyhound rescue team.

Owner Wendy Owens, of Bowie, Md., said that Bucket also loves the water, and that's not common for greyhounds.

So when she thought about his personality for the competition, the obvious choice was a funny "Surfer Dude."

"He's a comedian - if he could talk, that's what he would be," Owens said. "Bucket likes to be funny."

And Bucket is just one of many greyhounds saved.

Luigi, an Italian greyhound, wasn't going to waste his time with the costume contest. The 9-year-old hound loves to howl.

Owner Marnie Mix, of Leesburg, Va., was happy when Luigi took first place during the tricks part of "Stupid Greyhound Tricks & Costume Contest."

Luigi was recently diagnosed with cancer, Mix said.

Marnie Mix, of Leesburg, Va., and her dog Luigi, 9, an Italian Greyhound, won first place Saturday during the Stupid Greyhound Tricks contest. Luigi howled out notes for a large crowd inside the Allstar Expo Complex during Greyhounds in Gettysburg. (THE EVENING SUN -- DEBRA SCHELL)

"We don't know how long he will be with us," Mix said. "So I'm trying to do all the fun things possible."

If you go

Events will continue Sunday with a Blur of Fur Speed Run at 10:30 a.m. For more information, visit the Greyhounds in Gettysburg website.